Webster University and Barnes-Jewish College Partnership Make It Easier for Students to Pursue Dual STEM-Nursing Degrees

Webster University and Barnes-Jewish College, Goldfarb School of Nursing have entered an agreement that will make it easier for students in Webster’s Bachelor of Biology program to simultaneously earn a nursing degree from Barnes-Jewish College. 

Under this dual enrollment program, biology students at Webster can complete an undergraduate nursing degree at Goldfarb. These students will then have a dual biology/nursing degree that will allow them to expand potential job opportunities in the future while also qualifying them for better-paying positions in care and research facilities.

“Our partnership with Webster University supports seamless pathways into the nursing profession,” said Angie Clark, Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing President. “I am immensely grateful that, through this program, we can streamline entry into a rewarding nursing career. This is a practical solution to addressing our critical nursing shortage, while preparing our students for dynamic careers in our nationally recognized clinical care settings and in our newly renovated simulation and virtual reality spaces.”

“We are proud to enter into this partnership with Barnes-Jewish College, as it will have a significant positive impact on the region,” said Webster University President Julian Z. Schuster. “This partnership will further address the severe shortage of nurses and employees with biology degrees that are desperately needed by employers through the region.”

Under the agreement, Webster students in the Bachelor of Arts in Biology program can transfer up to 54 hours of pre-nursing coursework into Goldfarb’s Bachelor of Nursing program. Classes that will be interchangeable include some science classes such as anatomy and physiology, microbiology, and genetics, as well as core liberal arts courses such as ethics, intro to sociology, public speaking and algebra. When students complete the program, they will earn a dual biology/nursing bachelor’s degree.

“This is a huge win for the students at both institutions, as it gives them more options to pursue the degrees and the careers that they want,” said Webster University Biology Professor and Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences Stephanie Schroeder. “There is a large need for students with STEM training in the region, especially for STEM-trained students who have the flexibility to quickly enter new fields or perform hybrid tasks, such as applying nursing skills in a research environment.”

A signing ceremony for the agreement was held April 19. The program is expected to be available to both Webster and Barnes-Jewish College students this fall.